Friday, June 28, 2013

Hoses for your power / pressure washer

Hoses for your power / pressure washer 

Here is a subject that is rarely written about but is one important item when you think about it. This hose is delivers and stores the pressurized water until it is delivered to the trigger assembly then on to the nozzle.

Different sizes, types, styles, and ratings are on power washing hoses as well as different sizes, types or styles of connectors that attach them to the washer and to the gun or trigger. I'll try to inform you on these where to use them and what to look for. While some hose will work all power washes some will not the psi rating is what we will talk about first. From past entries you know that psi stands for the pounds of pressure per square inch that your power washer is producing. This will range form @1200 psi to around 18 psi for you over the counter electric models. They will come with a hose that usually have ends that will tread on to the gun and the unit it self. This is a different tread (the screw cut groves that attach the hose) than that of the garden hose you will be getting your supply water from.

Electric pressure washing hose with standard 22 mm fittings.
Standard 22 mm screw on fittings found on most smaller pressure washers.


This hose has brass screw on fittings sometimes referred to as standard 22mm connections. A 1/4" Teflon core covered by a black plastic sheath. The 1/4" sizing refers to the diameter of the inside hole in the hose. It is very easy to kink and crease these areas will be more likely to develop a leak or crack after a while. It is always recommend to disconnect the hose from the unit and the gun then coil it up for storage it will help to keep out the kinks making your hose last longer. These hoses are just a single core with no reinforcement and will be rated up to 2700 psi but you will need to check a good hose should be labled. Your next step up will have the same look but the materials used for construction will be different it will still have the screw on ends a Teflon core but will have a rubber sheath incasing it.  The rubber sheath will let it have a higher pressure rating usually up to 3000 psi. This hose is less likely to kink or crease do to  the heaver construction. This hose will be able to be used on the smaller units and will have a lot more flexibility. You will find these hoses in different lengths usually found in 10 feet, 25 feet and even in 50 feet I would not recommend any thing longer than 25 do to the kinking aspect of these hoses. These hose are not recommended for larger machines they can not handle the higher pressure developed by the larger units they will rupture.

The next step up in the average hoses that we see and use will be moving into the 3/8 inch diameter hose. The inside Teflon tubing is 3/8 of an inch. This hose will hold more reserve water but will take more of the pumps power to push it in a long run. This category will start with 3000 psi rating which has a rubber or plastic type outer shell holding a braided wire rap over the inner tube. If your hose is refereed to as a single wire this means it has one layer of steel braided reinforcement over the inner tube following this logic a 2 braid hose has two layers of steel reinforcing the inner tube and the hose in general against rupturing.

Cut-a-way shows the steel braid over the core with the outer shell which comes in many different materials.
Outer shell followed by two layers of steel braided reinforcement layer around the inner core.
The more psi your pump is putting out the higher rating you will need to safely use a high-pressure washer. Ratings follow as a general rule 3000 psi, 4000 psi, and 6000 psi in this type of hose construction. These are the hose you will see Cleaned by Pete using on jobs. They come with different shells as non-marring, oil resistant, layered wrapped, smooth or pebbled, black, gray, blue and so one the outer shell just help the power washer to be able to clean and keep clean area of your home or business and the hose itself. You can have a hose made to any length you would like, from 2 feet on up you will find the standard lengths to run 25 ft, 50 ft, and 100 ft, these hose have steel braids and do start to weigh up fast hauling a 100 ft of 2 wire hose starts to get heavy, 200 ft take quite a bit to move around I keep most of our hoses at or around the 50 ft length for easier adding and easier to haul and put up at the end of the job you can always add another hose to make things longer, and 100 ft hoses on the hose reels.

You can always use a larger rated hose on a smaller unit but never use under rated hose on higher pressures.

The next step up in the hose will be 1/2 inch diameter hoses all the same but some will have more steel wraps increasing there rating even more.

The next major rating in pressure washing hoses is "Hot or for use with Hot Water" this is another rating you will have to look for when using heated water. You can use a "hot-water" hose on cold water units but you always take the chance of things going wrong if you use cold water rated hoses with your hot water unit, The materials will be somewhat different to be able to use hot water with out getting to hot and causing a rupture in the line. One other hose you will see Cleaned by Pete use is steam hose while it is the same construction as the 3/8 in pressure hose the materials will be different, allowing us to use higher internal temperatures "live steam" in this hose.

Since time, making things secured and easy to use is important to the power washing contractor we use what is call a quick couple system. We set up our pumps and washers the way we like and what works for us. In most cases we use 3/8 hoses and quick couples so we can add more lengths or different ends to the hose. Pulling back on a ring releases several steel balls and the other end will slip out. No sealer, no leaking, no tools or wrenches just quick and easy.


Quick couplers come in "male and female" configurations depending on how you are setting up your system you will be using some form of these.
One problem is sometimes you just can add this to that hose or you have the 22 mm fitting and need a 3/8" quick couple, some times things work out and you have two "male connectors" ends that will not go together. We have tried to make ever thing uniform but with all the different washer, tools and attachments we have at Cleaned by Pete not all things still fit together, We solved this by making several different short hoses and adaptors.


Short hoses or whips and Cleaned by Pete's hose and quick connectors for different hoses that we use on our different pressure washers.
 Pressure washing hoses are fairly straight forward use is called for by your pressure washer a over rated hose is OK to use. Never use an under rated hose, severally kinked hose, worn or ruptured hose, cracked or dry-rotted hose or any hose that may look unsafe or that you are not sure of. Safety is a must when working with pressure of any type.

Friday, June 21, 2013

Concrete Cleaning & Restoration

Concrete Cleaning and Restoration MO
Just to let you know we don't just wash homes and business with our power washers. Power washers are great tools in the hands of a professional cleaner. We also use them for concrete cleaning and restoration along with gum removal.
 So to that end I wanted to post up this entry to show you what we do. Cleaned by Pete concrete cleaning and restoration, Springfield and the Southwest Missouri area.
 This short clip shows one or our surface cleaners doing it's job; concrete cleaning and restoration in Shellknob's "lake area" MO
Cleaned by Pete concrete cleaning and restoration Springfield MO. After the application of quality soaps and cleaners we use the surface cleaner you can see the top half of the picture has been cleaned.

Cleaned by Pete concrete cleaning and restoration in Springfield MO.

Another patio being cleaned and restored to it original look by Cleaned by Pete Ozark MO.

Another patio being cleaned and restored to it original look by Cleaned by Pete Ozark MO.

Sidewalk and gum removal plus sidewalk cleaning for business in Springfield MO. Cleaned by Pete concrete restoration and cleaning.

Sidewalk and gum removal plus sidewalk cleaning for business in Springfield MO. Cleaned by Pete concrete restoration and cleaning.
Driveway and sidewalk concrete cleaning and restoration in Springfield MO call Cleaned by Pete for your concrete restoration and cleaning needs 417-459-7869.


Sidewalk cleaning for business's in Springfield MO. Cleaned by Pete concrete restoration and cleaning.

Driveway concrete being cleaned and restored to an original look by: Cleaned by Pete concrete cleaning and restoration Southwest Missouri.

Applying our foaming cleaners to the concrete thousands of tiny bubbles work down into the concrete and pop releasing dirt and grime. Just on of the steps in our process. Cleaned by Pete applying safe, high quality, environmental friendly soap and cleaners to aid in the cleaning and restoration of concrete in South-West and the greater Springfield area.

Cleaned and restored concrete, Cleaned by Pete Springfield MO.
Cleaned and restored concrete for businesses, Cleaned by Pete Springfield MO.

Nixa MO concrete drive way cleaned by Cleaned by Pete concrete restoration and cleaning.

Cleaned, restored concrete with gum removal, Cleaned by Pete Springfield MO.

Cleaned and restored concrete with gum removal, Cleaned by Pete Rogersville MO.

Cleaned and restored concrete, Cleaned by Pete South-West MO.

Cleaned and restored concrete, Cleaned by Pete Cassville MO.
Using the 12" surface cleaner to clean a small walk-way.

Cleaned by Pete is serious about cleaning concrete, pictured here is our largest and our smallest surface cleaners. Concrete / surface cleaning Springfield MO.

Not all concrete is the same not every surface cleaner works the same. Here is a photo of some of the different surface cleaners Cleaned by Pete uses to clean flat surfaces.

Cleaned by Pete for all your power washing needs
417-459-7869

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

House Washing Wednesday near Willard MO

House Washing Wednesday between Willard & Springfield MO
This weeks featured house washing was near Willard MO. The home owners wanted the mold, mildew, moss, liken and algae removed and the home looking better. Here is what we did the vinyl siding on this home is something you do not run into often it has colors infused into the top layer to give it an appearance of natural wood, but it gets dirty just like any other vinyl siding.  With vinyl siding we use the "soft wash" method to clean the home, Those who are not familiar with this method is use safe high guilty soaps, cleaners an algaside delivered at a save low-pressure through a pressure washer using special nozzles and tools. The cleaners in this case were applied three times then worked in and rinsed and rerinsed, with no harm to the soft vinyl siding.
If Cleaned by Pete can help you in cleaning the external siding on your home or business please call 417-459-7869 
I have always liked this little trails left by slugs and snails as they feed off the algae of the home. Yes is right they feed off of the algae just as sucker fish clean the glass on an aquarium.

Before the house washing begins, Cleaned by Pete readies to clean this home.

Before and after a house washing by Cleaned by Pete

Before and after vinyl siding washed and cleaned near Willard MO Cleaned by Pete.

Before and after a house washing by Cleaned by Pete Willard MO.

Before and after vinyl siding washed and cleaned near Willard MO Cleaned by Pete.

Not only is the algae and the other growing organism are gone but the house and brick is brighter, call 417-459-7869 Cleaned by Pete and see what we can do for you.

Before and after a house washing by Cleaned by Pete

Before and after vinyl siding washed and cleaned near Willard MO Cleaned by Pete.

Parting view of the home as we are readied to leave

Part of the front of the home after a house washing from Cleaned by Pete 417-459-7869


417-459-7869

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Whow I almost missed House Washing Wednesday!

Whow I almost missed House Washing Wednesday! I did miss it but was today I finished up the home I was working on. Cleaning the brick and guttering blast the trim for paint. Here are a few pictures of the job. The owner has s few salt lesions working out around the home here and there so we are trying a natural safe product to see if it works to remove the patches on the home. Here are a few pictures of the finished job today.


Brick home cleaned by, Cleaned by Pete.

Brick home cleaned by, Cleaned by Pete.

Brick home cleaned by, Cleaned by Pete.

Brick home cleaned by, Cleaned by Pete.
The home was covered in white patches where salt is leaching form the brick. This spot has had 2 applications of a natural product and some brushing it is almost gone now. Hoping a couple more applications it will be gone. Using safe and natural cleaners to clean and do our job is first with us, it may take more time and effort but being good stewards of the plant is something we take serious.
Call Cleaned by Pete with your power washing needs 417-459-7869

Monday, June 10, 2013

Ozark Native Stone and Field Rock Houses

Rock and Field stone homes Southwest MO


  Ever wondered what your stone or rock house looked like after being built? with today's pollution and with airborne algae, likens, mosses, mildew and just plain dirt the color of the native stone in your home is being hidden and kept from view. Wonder if there is anything you can do? Here are a few pictures that may help you decide. Native stone and field rock homes are very popular here in Southwest MO and many people believe that once they're covered in liken, mold and mosses there is nothing they can do, but they can call Cleaned by Pete 417-459-7869 and transform their home's looks. You don't need to have the exterior of your rock, stone or brick home look dull and dingy any more call us for details. When we decided to become exterior mobile cleaners knowing the types of structures and substrates that we were going to be cleaning was important knowing what to use to safely clean with was important, know how much pressure or little pressure was important one size does not fit all when it come to cleaning, washing and restoring your home's looks. We now have 13 different pressure washers and steam cleaners we work with having the right one for your job is what we take pride in, understanding how each works to achieve results like in the pictures below is the most important thing we do. Cleaned by Pete know how to get these same results on your project call us and we can discuss your needs 417-459-7869

Restoring that rock or stone home looks just by cleaning in Southwest MO. Cleaned by Pete will expertly remove mosses, liken, mold and dirt from your rock or stone home leaving it look just like the stone masons left it years ago.

Stacked field stone has lost it color and picked up a dull black look over the years. Field stone and rock does not break down over the years this made it a well suited material for our forefathers to build from. but with more pollution and environmental changes our homes have become dirty and algae, mosses and liken have started to grow. Let Cleaned by Pete experts in external cleaning restore your homes looks, call 417-459-7869 and let's talk about what we can do for you.

Let Cleaned by Pete help restore and bring out the colors in that  Ozark native stone or field rock home. Restore the colors as they were seen 100 years ago bring back that pop you house deserves. Cleaned by Pete is working in the greater Springfield MO area and serves Southwest MO too.

Native stone and field rock homes in Missouri deserves the best call Cleaned by Pete and we can restore the looks of your stone home. Turning back the hands of time we can make your stone or rock home look as good as when the masons left it. We'll remove years of liken, moss, mildew, and dirt from your home call us 417-459-7869 your home deserves the best call Cleaned by Pete.

Cleaned by Pete has years of experience there is no need to trust your Ozark rock home to someone that thinks it should not be to hard to do. We have done rock homes and know what it takes to clean them. These native stone homes have been around for years and we'll help them look like new bring out the true native rock colors call use for a free estimate at 417-459-7869
Other Rock and Stone homes, Cleaned by Pete have cleaned and washed in the "Greater Springfield and Southwest MO area"

Stone home "Carthage stone" sometimes referred to as "Carthage Marble" a light colored fine limestone, Cleaned by Pete washed and cleaned in the "Greater Springfield and Southwest MO area"

Washed by: Cleaned by Pete in the "Greater Springfield and Southwest MO area"

Anther example of  a native Ozark rock or stone home Cleaned by Pete did in the "Halltown area of Southwest MO. This home and wall looked like some of the before and after from above but we brought back its look and the stone to what it looked like when new.

Cleaned by Pete finished cleaning and washing a new construction of a stone home washing off the dust and dirt form the construction.

Another home is Soutwest MO that Cleaned by Pete had the privilege to restore the stone work back to looking new again.
This job from last week removing the red clay stains form the base of this church in Galloway MO before it can stain deeper into the stone. 190 degree hot water from one of our and our washers and our house wash soap was used to take this off. It's Cleaned by Pete for your stone, rock, or restoration needs.